Spatchcock Chicken question...first cook!

SteelersGirl

Hi all! About to fire up our BGE for the first time and it sounds like Spatchcock Chicken is a good first recipe to attempt. I'm using Grandpas Grub's mouth watering recipe...

http://www.eggheadforum.com/index.php? option=com_simpleboard&Itemid=112&func=view&catid=1&id=6 26228#626228

We are cooking for 6 adults, so I bought two chickens (about 3 pounds each). I'm wondering if the large BGE will be able to hold two Spatchcocked Chickens on the grill extender w/the potatoes underneath? I also have two vertical roasters, I suppose I could use that if it doesn't fit. I don't want to cut them up just to find out the grill can't hold that much. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Also, are 2 chickens enough for 6 adults?

Boilermaker Ben

They should fit. I did two spatchcocks last week, direct, with potatoes baking on a second raised grid, above the birds. Everything fit fine. IF you do have problems, you could always just halve the birds entirely.

Two chickens should easily feed 6 adults, with some leftovers to spare.

WhackMaster719

Hey SteelersGirl, nice username! GO STEELERS!!!!

Anyways, two 3lb birds should fit OK with some room left over for some taters strategically placed around them. I plan on doing my first "Beer Can Chicken" tomorrow night with the sample pack of Dizzy Pig Raging River.

Best of luck with the birds, post pics!

Boilermaker Ben

Hey WhackMaster. If I might make an alternate suggestion...look up the maple salmon recipe on Dizzy Pig's website. I'm sure the chicken with raging river would be great, but RR was MADE for salmon, and the maple salmon is fantastic!

Frank from Houma

Should be good to go. Worst case, you may have to further cut into chicken halves. Some folks like to cut up so the breast can be taken off at 165 and thighs a little later at 185.

Won't hurt to put some carrots, quartered onions, zuchini, and squash in with the potatoes.

Instead of putting onions in the pan, a real treat is to peal a half dozen onions leaving them whole, then wrap in Heavy duty aluminum foil with two pats of butter and one beef boulion cube in each. Plenty room to position them around the chicken. Comes out like onion soup without a lot of broth.

Good luck with it. The only problem you may have is your guest knockin their brains out licking their chops.

sharhamm

A few days ago I cooked 3 chickens on my medium grid. 5 were halves and the sixth I had to quarter. A tight fit, but it worked. Spatchcocking takes up more room and they taste just the same. Feeding 6 adults on 2 chicken should be fine as long as some of them are women. Most woman only eat a quarter of a chicken but if it's all men or teenagers,I would get more meat.

WhackMaster719

Boilermaker, not to hijack SteelerGirls post, but (and I hope I don't get kicked out for this...) I really don't do seafood... My wife loves the stuff, but I stay away unless it is shrimp I can drowned it in a really spicy cocktail sauce or maybe a fish stick here and there. :silly:

ChargerGuy

Thanks for the inspiration Steelersgirl, i think i will do a spatchcock chicken tonight gonna use some DP shakin the Tree! Make sure to post some pictures of your results, love the pictures, lol.

2Fategghead

Steelersgirl, They don't call me 2Fategghead for nothing.

This is just me but, at my house I would spatchcock one 3 pound chicken per 2 adults ie 1/2 chicken per adult. I know you mentioned you are baking potato's as well.

I don't know who your guests are so, you may know best.

Just sayin. Tim

Damn Yankee BBQ

Two birds should be fine. Spatchcock is one of my favorites. I usually throw corn on the cob half way through the cook on the bottom rack around the edges. The legs will pretty much fall off when you go to pull the birds off.

mattrapp

Two chickens will be plenty for 6 adults. I did 2, 7# birds on my large last night, you just need to arrange them right. They were so juicy they squirted when I cut them!

Mark0525

I usually do 1-5# chicken and it barely feeds 3 adults. I don't think 2-3# chickens will be enough for 6 adults. Depends on how much they eat too...lol

PapaDoug

There is a glitch somewhere. When I click on your link, I get Elder Ward talking about pulled pork.

PhilsGrill

Half **** your chickens to make more room!

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/butterflychicken.html

.